It's official ...

I have flanged ...

and this is what my quilt top looks like now ...  one more round to go!

Last weekend I met my dear friend Heather at this show in Bristol ...

it was really good and we spent a lovely day looking at and talking fabric!  It's good to go to these shows because you get to see all the latest gadgets and you get ideas.  The competition quilts are always amazing!  

You also find new suppliers like Totally Buttons ...

I forgot to go back and get some Christmas Buttons so I ordered them on line and they arrived the next day - fantastic service!

It's all in the stars ...

I set my stars into this beautiful purple tulip fabric ... I would never have done this, if Colleen (one of the ladies in my class) hadn't set her stars into a darker fabric ... I was all set to put my stars into a cream fabric but this looks SO much better ... it's what's great about being in class - you get ideas from other people!

I've also made another row of bricks, so next month I'll be putting it all together - can't wait!

And here's another birthday gift ...

It was my lovely sister-in-law Jo's 60th birthday in October ...

Jo makes amazing cakes ...

Happy Birthday Jo Jo! Vx

Another birthday to celebrate ...

Happy Birthday Andy Zak ...

Cushion pattern came from one of my favourite bloggers - Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew ...

I've had this American Stars and Stripes fabric for a couple of years ... just waiting for the perfect project ...

And I think these buttons add a nice touch!

Oh ... and whilst clearing out a kitchen drawer ... I found an old school tea towel ... it made me smile ...

Bless them! xxx

Celebrated ...

two birthdays at the weekend ...

Happy birthday to Theresa ...

and Happy Birthday to Lesley ...

I made these little wall hangings for my friends, adapting the Anni Downs Angel Quilt pattern.

Happy times ...

spent at Cupcake Cottons!  50% off Christmas fabrics today!

I love the fact that Steph puts your purchases in a lovely brown bag with a Cupcakes label!  It makes it special!

I particularly like the fabric in the bottom left of the picture - feel some fussy cutting coming on! 

I've been busy making 32 stars for my medallion quilt ...

and I made another bag for a very happy event!  

Congratulations to Paul and Jane on the birth of gorgeous little Freddy ...

Summer sewing ...

I did manage to do some sewing during the summer ...

as I said in my last post, I took sewing with me to Scotland - I never go anywhere without some sewing in my bag! :)  And can I say how useful the case that Sue, Lesley, Maggie and Theresa gave me for my birthday has been - I have taken it everywhere with me - thank you ladies ...

I made another sewing bag for my friend Theresa's daughter Emily - she's doing Textiles for A level.  This time I put some novelty buttons on for fun!

I also stitched a wedding sampler for Lizzie and Joel's wedding - I know dear Lizzie reads my blog so many congratulations to you and Joel!  It was a beautiful wedding - thank you for inviting us to share your day!

My main project of the summer, however, has been my medallion quilt which I'm making as a 'block a month' project at Cupcake Cottons.  I am absolutely loving it - it is so fussy!  It has taken me weeks to complete the four appliqué panels and I'm just in the process of making the baskets for the corners.  I'm twisting my handles, so I needed to stitch the binding at the back.  I bought some bias bars and they are just great - so easy to use with great results!  A gadget worth having!

So my quilt is growing!  We are making a flange next - can't believe  how excited I am about making a flange!

Happy sewing! :) Vx

It's been a while ...

since my last blog!  Here is a snapshot of our summer ...

It started with a lovely week away with David in this beautiful cottage in Scotland ...

of course, my sewing came too!

We were reunited with Tom after his six months in Zurich ... it's lovely to have him back ...

Poppy's best friend from school , Lizzie, got married and Poppy was a bridesmaid!  It was a beautiful wedding ... Many congratulations to Lizzie and Joel ...

We all went to WOMAD again!  And this time Annika (Tom's girlfriend) came  ...

Another beautiful wedding ... this time my godson, Craig, married Becky.  Pat in the green was my best friend at school!


The summer has, however, ended sadly as my lovely brother-in-law Mike is no longer with us.

Eileen and Mike at their youngest son's wedding last year

Apologies ...

it's Jo Colwill at Cowslip! Vx

Malvern 2016 ...

I like to take cash with me to Malvern Quilt Show - it gives me a budget!  I went with my friend Jennifer and we had a lovely day.  As always, Malvern was packed with lovely, lovely fabrics and SO many ideas!!!  I noticed that some of my favourite stalls were missing this year but there were some lovely new stalls such as Quilting Antics!   And ... very exciting ... we got served and chatted to Mandy Shaw from Dandelion Designs and Jo Colwill from Cowslip Workshops!  

I'm just finishing this Cockerel tapestry ... it's just like finishing a really good book ... I always slow down for the last bit of stitching to make it last as long as possible ... and although I have my next one lined up and ready to go ... it will take me a while to pick it up and get going!

Vanessa x

Pretty maids all in a row ...

How many bags do two girls need?

My friend Jennifer came over for the weekend to sew!  We spent Saturday making another bag each - we now have six bags between us!!!

The two newbies!

I saw this fabric and just thought it was PERFECT for a sewing bag - it's called Haberdashery!  The bag is Steph's design at Cupcake Cottons and I bought the fabric from Secret Garden Quilting. 

This is Jennifer's bag and the fabric is the model's own!  It's called Pretty Maids by Vanessa Arbuthnott and the lining is from Steph at Cupcake Cottons!

Archie - always willing to have his photograph taken!

Just want to say a big thank you to David for catering for the weekend!  Jennifer stopped over to watch Eurovision with us (which I have to say was a bit dull this year!) and David cooked a fabulous evening meal - thanks David!  Love you!

Bags and quilting ...

 

my idea of heaven!  I went on a sewing bag workshop last week at Cupcake Cottons and came away with this beautiful bag to keep all my sewing bits in ...

 Enjoyed making it SO much, I just had to make one for Poppy ...

and I'm now working on my third!

Vanessa x

Bits and pieces ...

my medallion quilt which I'm making with Steph at Cupcakes Cottons is coming along nicely ...

I met up with a dear friend this week - Chris Dodsley is visiting from New York and we spent the day together in Bath - non stop chatting!  Chris is an amazing quilter - check out her blog  madebychrissied.blogspot.com ...

Chris brought me some lovely gifts all the way from the USA!  Thanks Chris ...

Another dear friend, Sue Hayes, came home last week from a trip to Sri Lanka and she brought me these lovely fabrics - watch this space with what I plan to do with them ...

And finally, I went out with my friends from Bourton on Friday to celebrate my birthday and they gave me this lovely quilters travelling case ... thank you Sue, Maggie, Theresa and Lesley! 

I always take sewing with me wherever I go, so I know this case will come in really useful!

Vanessa x